Latch



Filed Oct. 16, 1952 INVENTOR. J 9 CHAezEs 5. P4L44E2,J

9 A BY ATTORNEY- United States Patent 2,701,156 LATCH 15 Claims. (Cl. 292113) This invention relates to latching means for sliding panels and more particularly to an improved latch for positively and tightly securing a sliding panel in an opening to be closed. This application is a COlJillIlllfl'ilOH-lll-Pfllt of my application Serial No. 235,681 filed July 9, 1951, entitled "Latch," now abandoned.

Sliding panels such as sliding doors and wmdowspresent peculiar problems of latching which are quite driferent than the problems encountered when latching a hinged or swinging closure. Swinging closures are usually provided with a movable latching bolt automatically retractable upon contact with a portion of a door amb when the closure enters the plane of the door openlng. The latching bolt is biased to move into extended position for automatic reception within a recess in the associated door jamb. The latch bolt and the side walls of the jamb recess interengage to immediately hold such a swinging closure in closed position and against movement out of the plane of the opening.

A sliding panel, that is, a panel which moves entirely within the plane of an opening for closing said opening has an edge face which meets the jamb edge face headon and in opposed face-to-face relation. Preferably the latching elements and the operating forces for said ele: ments should lie within the planar zone of the opening (except for the actuating handle) in order to eliminate unsightly sidewardly projecting housings or members of a latch means. Prior latch means for such sliding panels usually included a hook-shaped latching element simply pivoted about a single axis for engagement with a cooperable portion of a wall forming a jamb recess. Such prior latch means were not capable of holding the sliding panel in tight, non-rattling face-to-face relation.

Sliding panels have a tendency to strike an opposed jamb edge face when being closed and to rebound therefrom with a slight separation between the opposed panel and jamb edge faces unless such a sliding panel is carefully closed, damage usually results to the latching finger provided on prior proposed latch means for securing such sliding panels. Prior latch fingers are usually partially extended and may strike against the margins of the jamb cavity. Furthermore, present construction of sliding panels usually provides for a removable mounting of the panel, removal being accomplished by lifting upward on the panel so that the bottom rail of the panel may clear the sill and be swung outwardly out of the plane of the opening. Prior latching means for sliding panels did not obstruct such removal, so that in effect, such prior latches were incapable of preventing removal of the sliding panel and thus afforded no protection against burglary.

The latch means of this invention contemplates a very simple upwardly acting latch which combines reach with strong and positive grip. By reac is meant the capability of a latch member to extend and engage a meeting latch socket so as to pull the sliding panel from a slightly separated into a complete closed position with respect to the jamb face. To accomplish this reach a positive force capable of overcoming the inertia of the panel and preferably with a snap-action is employed to manipulate the latch. Such a positive up-action force as embodied in the latch of this invention has a further advantage in insuring a snug abutment of the sliding panel with the jamb face.

The latching means of this invention contemplates a simple, positive up-acting latch which is capable of tightly drawing and holding a slidable panel in face-to-face relation with an associated jamb and which is substantially burglar-proof so as to prevent removal of the sliding panel in the manner mentioned above. The latch of this invention includes a latching member which is mounted in a novel manner for movement about a varying axis so as to provide the latching finger of the member an unusual reach for cooperation with a latch plate having a cavity 2,701,156 Patented Feb. 1, 1955 within which the finger may be received. The latch means of this invention contemplates that the latch member be maintained in retracted position within a latch housing when the sliding panel is not in closed position and wherein means are provided for permitting the release of the latch member from retracted position when in proximity to a latch plate on an associated jamb member or when desired.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to design and provide a novel positive latching means for gliding panels or closures such as sliding doors and winows.

An object of this invention is to provide a latch means having a latch member which is afforded both virtually translational and rotative movement in its operation so as to afford maximum reach" for a latch finger whereby the sliding panel may be drawn into snug face-to-face abutment with an opposed jamb face.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide an improved latch means wherein the latch member is rendered normally inoperable except when moved into proximity to an associated ja-m'b face or selectively manually operated.

Still another object of this invention is to design and provide a means wherein the latch member is mounted and actuated in a novel, unique manner whereby the sliding panel is tightly held in closed relation to the opening to be closed.

A still further object of this invention is to design and provide an improved latch means which is simply constructed, fool-proof in operation, easy to manufacture, and readily installable.

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a latch means having a latch housing adapted to be installed within a side member of a sliding panel, said housing having an opening lying in the plane of the edge face of said side member. A latch member is carried within the housmg for variant movement about a fixed pivot pin which is accommodated within a slot pivoted in the latch member. A spring extends between the pin and the bottom of the slot so as to bias the latch member into retracted position or into extended position, depending upon the position of a pivotal connection of the latch member to an actuating member. The fixed pin and the pivotal connection to the actuating member are so arranged that the movement of the latch member includes initially virtually translational movement and lastly, rotative movement. Biased pin means are also provided for maintaimng the latch member in retracted position when the sliding panel is not in closed position.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings wherem an exemplary illustration of a latch means embodying this invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an end view of a latch means embodying this invention illustrated as mounted in the side member of of a sliding door or panel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the latch means cooperably engaging a latch plate provided on an associated jamb member.

Fig. 3 is a side view of latching means with a substantial portion of the side plate thereof removed so as to see the relationship of the latching elements.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the latching member in an intermediate latching position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view showing the latching member in final latching position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken at the plane indicated by line VIVI of Fig. 3.

An exemplary latch means embodying this invention shown in the drawings generally includes a hollow, rectangular housing 10, a fixed pivot pin 11 carried by the housing therewithin, an actuating means generally indicated at 12, connected to and carrying within the housing an actuating arm 13 and a latch member 14 pivoted to the arm and cooperably associated with the pin 11 through body means provided with an open-ended slot 15 in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

While the latch means is illustrated as being carried in a sliding panel 16 and cooperable with a latch plate 17 carried on a stationary jamb member 18, it is understood that the latch means may be mounted on a jamb member for cooperation with a sliding panel or may be employed between a pair of adjacent relatively movable sliding panels lying in the same plane. The jamb member 18 may be provided with a cavity 19 over which may be secured in any suitable manner as by screws (not shown) the latch plate 17, said latch plate having an opening 20 therein for reception of a latch finger 21 on the latch member.

The housing 10 may include parallel side walls 22 and 23 and peripheral edge walls including top and bottom walls 24 and 25 and front and back walls 26 and 27 The top and bottom walls 24 and 25 respectively carry lugs 28 and 29 adapted to facilitate securing of housing 10 within a recess formed within a side member of the sliding panel 16.

The front wall 26 of the housing is provided with an elongated, rectangular latch opening 30 through which latch member 14 may be extended or retracted. Above opening 311 there may be provided a port 31 for a latch release pin 32, the function of the latter being described hereinafter.

Inwardly and generally opposite to the top edge of opening 30 may be provided the fixed transversely arranged pivot pin 11 secured in any suitable manner to side walls 22 and 23.

Below opening 30 and rearwardly of pin 11, actuating means 12 is provided rotation about a transverse axis defined by a cylindrical hub 33 having reduced end portions journaled in aligned ports in said side walls 22 and 23. Hub 33 may be provided with a diametrically arranged longitudinally extending keyway or slot 34 having an open side to facilitate reception in said slot of a fiat key element 35. The flat key element may extend beyond the side wall 23 and its outer end may carry in any suitable manner a handle portion 36 for actuating the latch. The handle portion 36 may be generally cylindrical in shape, extend below its connection to key element 35, and may form a part of the design of door or panel hardware 37 for the sliding panel.

Between side walls 22 and 23 and secured against the shoulders formed by the reduced end portions of the hub 33 may be a pair of parallel upwardly extending yoke or arm elements 38 forming the arm means 13. Each element is provided with an inclined top edge 40 adapted to abut as at 41, the inner surface of front wall 26 when the latching means is in latching position.

The latching member 14 may be formed of a fiat relatively thick-section piece of metal having at one end thereof a latching finger 21 and opposite thereto and generally parallel therewith the slot 15 formed by spaced body portions 43 and 44 on latch member 14. The slot 15 is provided with an open end 45 adapted to receive fixed pin 11 during assembly for accommodation of said pin within slot 15.

Spring means for biasing the latch member into both final retracted and latching positions is provided by a coil spring 46 compressed between the fixed pin 11 and the bottom face of slot 15. Spring 46 is positioned in said slot as by extending the inner end of the spring into a shallow bore provided in the body member at the bottom of the slot. The outer end of the spring abuts the fixed pin 11 which, when in normal retracted or latching position of the latch member, is disposed at open end 45 in closing relation. In retracted position assembly of member 14, pin 11, and spring 46 is maintained by abutment of edge face 47 on the latch member against the inner surface of the back wall 27.

The yoke elements 38 may be pivotally connected as at 49 to the latch member 14 in a zone lying between slot 15 and latching finger 21 and extending parallel to the slot. It will thus be noted in Figs. 3 and 5 that the pivotal connection 49 lies substantially to one side or to the other side of a plane A passing through the axis of the hub 33 and pin 11 when in retracted and in latching position respectively.

In latching position Fig. 5, the yoke elements 38 have been rotated forwardly until their inclined edge faces 40 abut the inner face of the front wall 26 of the housing and the latch finger 21 has been moved to a virtually upright position in front of wall 26 in spaced relation thereto. The inner surface 50 of the latch finger 21 is pressed against as at 51, the inner surface of latch plate 17 above the latch plate opening 21 by the forces of spring 46 acting as a moment force about pivotal connection 49.

The movement imparted to the latch member by rotation of handle 36 and the yoke elements 38 is now described in detail. As handle 36 is turned upwardly and to the right as seen in Fig. 2, the pivotal connection 49 between the latch member 14 and the elements 38 follows a path described by the are indicated at B. Since in normal retracted position, pivotal connection 49 lies well to one side of the plane A, member 14 first moves forwardly with slight relative pivotal movement between the member 14 and elements 38. In this initial movement the latch member may be said to be afforded virtually translational movement whereby the fixed pin 11 moves deeper into slot 15 and further compresses coil spring 46. Just before the pivotal connection 49 reaches plane A, slightly more relative pivotal movement of the latch member with respect to the elements 38 results so that the latch member 14 is positioned generally as shown in Fig. 4 with the latch finger 21 projecting into opening 30 and generally inclined upwardly at approximately 45 degrees. Up to this point in the movement of the latch membser, the spring 46 is being compressed within the slot 1 After pivotal connection 49 moves forwardly of its position shown in Fig. 4, spring 46 assists in the latching movement of latch member 14 and causes the latching finger 21 to move upwardly into snug abutment with the inner surface of the latch plate 17 above the latch opening 21. This latter movement is a snap action which tends to draw the edge face of the panel into snug face-to-face abutment with the jamb edge face. The ultimate latching position is best shown in Fig. 5 wherein it will be noted that the coil spring 46 is again almost fully extended and in position so as to resist by further compression any downward movement of the latching finger 21.

A latch member releasing means is provided by release pin 32 which forwardly extends through port 31. The pin 32 is biased into forward position by a coil spring 60 sleeved over a rear portion 61 of the pin and housed within a tubular sleeve 62 fixed to the inner surface of the rear wall 27 in any sutiable manner. The release pin 32 carries at its central portion a shoulder or collar 63 having a tapered or conical forward section 64 adapted to normally abut against the inner edge of port 31. In forwardly biased position release pin 32 prevents the latch member from being moved from retracted to latching position because collar 63 obstructs the initial forward translational movement of the latch member when the pivotal connection 49 moves in the are A, as indicated in phantom lines shown in Fig. 3.

In normal operation, when the sliding panel is moved into closed position, the extremity of pin 32 first strikes the jamb edge face and the pin is pressed inwardly by the closing movement of the panel. When the edge face of the panel is in close proximity to the jamb edge face, the pin 32 has been retracted to such an extent that turning of handle 36 and movement of the latch member into latching position will not be prevented by collar 63 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Upon opening the sliding panel, the handle is turned downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to unlatch the latching member 14. As the panel is moved away from the jamb edge face, the biased release pin 32 moves to its forward extended position and prevents undesired movement of the latching finger to latching position when the panel is in open position.

It should be particularly noted that in latching position the compressed spring 46 exerts a force acting at the end of a substantial moment arm extending from the pivotal connection 49. Thus, a positive force is exerted on the latching member for pressing the latching finger against the inner surface of the latch plate and for urging the edge face of the sliding panel into tight, nonrattling position with respect to the opposed jamb edge face.

It should also be particularly noted that the upwardly directed position of the latching finger in latch position is effective to prevent removal of the sliding panel when the panel is closed. Any force urging the panel upwardly is resisted by the abutment of the top edge latch plate opening against the latch member. A force applied downwardly against the latch member as by inserting a thin blade between the jamb face and the opposed edge face of the panel is effectively resisted by the spring 46 and the abutment of end portions of the arm elements 38 against inner bottom edge of the latch opening in the housing 10.

While a handle portion for actuating the latch means is exemplarily illustrated as being provided only on the interior of the sliding panel, it is understood that if desired, a similar handle may be provided on the exterior of the panel for operation of the latch member.

It is understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the latching means described above which come within the spirit of this invention, and all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a latch means for sliding panels, the combination of: a hollow housing provided with an edge face opening; a fixed pin carried by and within the housing adjacent to said opening; a latch member having a latch finger and means forming an open-ended slot spaced from said finger, said slot receiving said pin; actuating means for said member including spaced parallel arm elements pivoted at one end about an axis spaced inwardly from said fixed pin and at the other end to said latch member between said finger and said slot; spring means compressed between said fixed pin and an opposed wall of said slot for holding said member respectively in retracted position and in latch position; and a movable springbiased pin having a collar carried by and within the housing adjacent to the means forming the slot for normally obstructing movement of the latch member from retracted to latching position.

2. In a latch means for sliding panels, the combination of: a hollow housing provided with an edge face opening; a fixed pin carried by and within the housing adjacent to said opening; a latch member having a latch finger and means forming an open-ended slot spaced from said finger, said slot receiving said pin; actuating means for said member including spaced parallel arm elements pivoted at one end about an axis spaced inwardly from said fixed pin and at the other end to said latch member between said finger and said slot; and spring means compressed between said fixed pin and an opposed wall of said slot for biasing said member into latch position.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a housing, a pin mounted in the housing, a latch member including a latch finger and provided with a slot spaced from the latch finger and at least partially accommodating the pivot pin, a helical spring disposed between the pivot pin and an end of the slot and under compression, means operable exteriorly of the housing to rotate the latch member about said pin and against the loading of the spring.

4. A latch mechanism comprising a housing, a pivot pin mounted in the housing, a latch member including a latch finger and provided with a slot at least partially accommodating the pivot pin, a helical spring confined between the pivot pin and a wall defining the slot, an arm pivotally mounted in the housing and pivotally connected to the latch member between the slot and the latch finger, and means operable exteriorly of the housing to pivot the arm.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a housing, a pivot pin mounted in the housing, a latch member including a latch finger and provided with a slot at least partially accommodating the pivot pin, a helical spring compressed between the pivot pin and the inner end of the slot, a hub rotatably mounted in the housing, a yoke aifixed to the hub and pivotally connected to the latch member, and means operable externally of the housing to rotate the hub and the yoke to move the point of pivotal engagement of the yoke and latch member with respect to the hub.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a housing, a pivot pin mounted in the housing, a latch member including a latch finger and provided with a slot at least partially receiving the pivot pin, a helical spring compressed between the pivot pin and a wall defining one end of the slot, a hub rotatably mounted in the housing and having a longitudinally extending keyway therein, a yoke afiixed to the hub and pivotally afiixed to the latch member, and means operable externally of the housing and including a key projecting into the keyway to rotate the hub and the yoke so as to move the point of pivotal engagement of the yoke and latch member with respect to the hub.

7. A latch means comprising a housing having an opening therein; a latch member having a latch finger adapted to be extended and retracted through said opening for engagement with an associated latch plate; means for mounting said latch member in said housing for pivotal and translatory movement including an elongated slot; actuating means for said latch member including an arm having a pivotal connection to said latch member and pivoted about an axis lying between the latched and retracted position of said pivotal connection; and spring means associated with said mounting means in said slot for blaslng said latch member into latched position.

8. In a latch means, the combination of: a hollow housing provided with a front wall having an opening therein; a latch member retractable within said housing and having an outwardly directed latch finger and body means providing a slot spaced from said finger; pin means carried by the housing and slidably received within said slot; spring means within the slot cooperable with said pin means and said body means for biasing said latch member into retracted and latch position; and actuating means for the latch member including arm means pivoted about a fixed axis spaced from the pin means and pivotally connected to the latch member between said finger and said slot.

9. A latch means as defined in claim 8 wherein releasable means are carried by the housing for contact with the body means for releasably holding said latch member in retracted position.

10. A latch means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said spring means includes a coil spring positioned within said slot and compressed between said pin means and said body means.

11. A latch means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said latch member has an edge face to abut the back wall of the housing when in retracted position to maintain the latch member in cooperative relation with the pin means.

12. A latch means as claimed in claim 8 wherein said arm means in latching position contacts the front wall of said housing and wherein said spring means positively urges said latch finger into contact with a cooperable face on an associated latch plate.

13. In a latch mechanism, the combination of: a housing provided with a front wall having an opening therein; a latch member retractable within the housing and having a latch finger and a body means provided with a slot spaced from said finger; means carried by the housing and received within said slot for cooperably positioning said latch member; spring means within the slot cooperable with said means received therewithin for biasing the latch member into retracted and latch position; and actuating means for said latch member including an arm having a pivotal connection to said latch member and pivoted about an axis spaced from said pivotal connection for moving the latch member into retracted and latch position.

14. In a latch mechanism, the combination of: a housing provided with a front wall having an opening therein; a latch member retractable within the housing and having a latch finger and body means provided with a slot spaced from said finger; means carried by the housing and slidably received within said slot for guiding said latch member; spring means cooperable with said latch member for biasing the latch member into retracted and latching position; and actuating means for said latch member including an arm having a pivotal connection to said latch member between said finger and said slot and pivoted about an axis spaced from said pivotal connection for moving the latch member into retracted and latching position.

15. A latch means comprising: a housing having an opening therein; a latch member having a latch finger within the housing and adapted to be extended and retracted through said opening; means for mounting said latch member in said housing for pivotal and translatory movement including an elongated slot; actuating means for said latch member including an arm having a pivotal connection to said latch member and pivoted about an axis lying between latching and retracted position of said pivotal connection; and spring means for biasing said latch member into latching position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,518 Boardman May 17, 1921 1,459,812 Zeman June 26, 1923 1,879,792 Cheney Sept. 27, 1932 1,883,804 Marque Oct. 18, 1932 

